Hot, Hot, Hot
From Ice Storms in Texas to surviving the Heat Dome in Indiana, we have experienced all types of weather on this adventure. Thank goodness that Coach Addy has a great air conditioner and that many Harvest Hosts are now offering electrical hookups! As we traveled from Kentucky up through Indiana and into Chicago, we experienced heat warnings, extreme temperatures and very high humidity. Boy the heat can really zap your energy and limit your outside activities. The heat wave started last weekend as we were finishing up our stay at Elkhorn Creek RV Resort where we spent our final two days in their awesome swimming pool which was really the only place to escape the heat. We left the area and started heading north…and so did the Heat Dome! Needless to say, we were happy yesterday when the temperatures dropped and I actually had to put on a sweatshirt last night!
Hot Tip #1 Always check the weather in the place you are heading!
Because the weather can change so quickly and dramatically when you are traveling from state to state, it is important to check the weather regularly and plan accordingly. Once we realized that we would be tracking right along with the Heat Dome, we quickly did some research and made sure that all of the places where we were staying had electrical hookups so we could run our air conditioner. This did require some canceling of some reservations and booking of new Harvest Hosts. Everybody was so understanding and certainly understood that we needed to cancel and rebook somewhere else.
Farms, Farms and More Farms
We stayed on three different farms this week, each one being unique and different. We loved all three and I was reminded of one of my favorite shows growing up… Green Acres! Cue the music...
🎶Green Acres is the place to be.
Farm livin’ is the life for me.
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give that country side!🎶
Farm life is so different from our life back in Carlsbad. Some differences are quite obvious, others more subtle. What struck me as I observed the day to day life of these farms is how incredibly hard these folks work-even in the middle of a heat wave! They are up early and they work tirelessly taking care of the crops, the animals, the buildings etc…And they appear to always be improving their farm and making it better than it was the day before. I also noted how incredibly friendly everyone who works on the farm is to each other and to guests. And most importantly, it was quite apparent that all the owners of these farms are so very proud of their farm and love sharing the farm with others.
Dull’s Tree Farm
We loved this place! Tom welcomed us to his farm in Thorntown, Indiana. He and his wife have created quite the place for the community to gather and enjoy. Dull’s Tree Farm is so much more than just a Cut your own Christmas Tree farm. What started out as a Christmas Tree Farm has grown into over 40 acres of tree farm and now a u-pick pumpkin farm and corn maze. They have the typical Fall Fun on the Farm in October, but they also have found ways to bring the community to farm throughout the year with events such as Christmas in July Craft fair, the adult only Easter Egg Hunts, the Taste of the Maze (an event that partners with the local Craft breweries and eateries), and a Fall Wine harvest and wreath decorating day. They also partner with the local schools for field trips to the farm where students can learn more about the farm and where their food comes from. We got up early before the heat and humidity was too bad and went for a nice long bike ride all around the farm and the surrounding area. What a great place!!
Perkins’ Good Earth Farm
Perkins’ Good Earth Farm in Demotte, Indiana could not have been more different from Dull’s Tree Farm. That being said, they do share some commonalities. Most notably, they are an integral part of their community. Not in the same way as Dull's Tree Farm with their large events, but more on a day to day basis. Julie and Dan are growing and harvesting delicious produce (a lot of it!) and sharing it with the community. They have an interesting and unique business model called CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). You can learn more about it in the above link, but essentially it is a partnership between the farm and a community of members who share the risks and the rewards of the farm. You purchase a “share” of the crops and they provide you with safe, organically grown produce every week. Such a wonderful concept! Additionally, they have a “Farm Stand & Kitchen” where they sell their veggies, meats and granola. In spite of the intense heat, we watched people visiting the Farm Stand all day long and leaving with baskets of fresh produce and other delicious items. What a gift to the community! Peder and I so appreciated being a part of the farm and of course we stocked up on produce, meat and granola!
Serosun Farms
Our Circle of Friends tour came to a close today. We made it all the way up to Hampshire, Illinois, a beautiful town just outside of Chicago to visit our friends John and Deborah. Serosun Farms, is what is known as an “Agrihood.” An Agrihood, as described on their website, is a sustainable community that blends peaceful, pastoral living with modern convenience. Centered around a working farm, it is a progressive rural oasis that provides refuge from the city without sacrificing its comforts. Residents will enjoy hundreds of acres of open space with restored prairie and woodlands with a focus on sustainability and a Farm to Table Lifestyle. The concept is brilliant and we are so excited to watch the project take shape and come to life. An added bonus is that John has a few family members who are living on the farm and it was wonderful spending time with them. Everybody was so kind and welcoming! Such a beautiful family compound that they have created here, filled with love, peace and tranquility. As much as we enjoyed our stay and meeting new friends, it was Charlie who really settled in at Serasun Farms. He was so comfortable here and such a good boy. I have no doubt that he could sense just how special and magical this place really is. The people who will someday choose this to be their community will be very lucky indeed and will enjoy a lifestyle that will bring them much joy! Thank You John and Deborah for your hospitality and for sharing the farm with us and all of the dreams and plans for its future!
The Barn That's Coach Addy's Driveway! Ariel View of property
Hot Tip #2: Embrace the lifestyle where you are!
I am so grateful for Harvest Hosts and for the opportunities that it provides for us to experience first hand different lifestyles. This past week was no exception! Farming is hard work and farmers are very proud folks!
Lesson Learned:
Staying on the many different farms that we have visited during this adventure has given me a whole new appreciation for the industry and for how food gets from the farm to my table! Behind every piece of food is a farmer and a family that works hard and has a story to share. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to listen to so many of their stories and appreciate what they do for all of us!
Bummer of the Week:
The last of our Circle of Friends tour. We have had so much fun the past couple of months visiting friends in Minnesota, Kansas City, Tennessee and Illinois. Our adventure has been enriched by you all opening up your homes (and driveways) to us and sharing your life and families with us! These are memories of this trip that are very special and will be with us forever! Thank you for being a part of Coach Addy’s First Big Adventure!
Highlight of the Week:
Experiencing Serosun Farms! Peder and I have been hearing about this Agrihood concept for many years and have talked about wanting to get out to Chicago to see it for ourselves. We are so glad we made time on our trip for the visit. It was worth the detour! I really can’t explain how this place makes you feel. Tons and tons of open space with a vision of a sustainable community enjoying all that the land has to offer. A very special place indeed!
This next week we will be traveling close to 1400 miles! We need to make a detour down to Boerne, Texas where our daughter, Betina and her husband Butch live. You see, we are going on this cruise out of New Jersey and up to Nova Scotia- well, we need a place to leave Coach Addy and Charlie. Our original plans to leave them in Pennsylvania didn’t work out, so we had to “work the problem” and go to Plan B. Actually, we are on Plan C, because Plan B included working our way South down the Mississippi River Scenic Byway to Savanah and New Orleans. But... guess where that Heat Dome is headed-Yep, straight down the Missisippi River into Georgia and Louisiana. So, some quick recalculation and we will hit that part of the country in October, when it should be beautiful and better weather. Good News: We get to visit Field of Dreams in Iowa tomorrow and then Mark Twain’s birthplace, Hannibal, Missouri-neither of which were on our original itinerary!
Have an awesome week! Keep livin’ the dream, whatever and wherever yours might be!
Week #26 had so much of what life has to offer. Most importantly...as you shared "Keep livin’ the dream, whatever and wherever yours might be!". My life is consistently enriched by the manner in which you are sharing your retired life and grand adventure! I am awe-inspired...While working together I witnessed you guiding others towards their professional dreams or moving entire educational teams in a cutting-edge manner to assist students achieve academic achievement or social-emotional wellness. NOW, you are guiding each of (us) your readers with another aspect of what life has to offer. Do what you love! Do what brings you joy! Live with intention!